The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-08-12
In View Of the Coming Centennial.


During the winter of 1856 Con-
gress rarely constituted quorum. The
Confederation WAS falling 10 pieces.
The rage for paper money had
broken out afresh and more violently
than before. Legislators lost their wits,
1--WE have no mocey, but let us make
money and wipe out orr debts" In
sever Safes the hard-money men were
ontvoted. Within the year MARYLAND
North Carolina, New York, New Jsr-
sey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and
Vermont issued great quantities Of pa
per money. They also attempted 20 en-
force its circulation by law. 1T man
refuse 20 take a State bill he shall be
made TO suffer- Public morals Cell
with the currency. The worst element
OF the debtor class congragated in
armed mobs and prevented the sittings
OF the Courts in Massachusetts, that
executions might not issue against de-
linquent debtors. Whole counties in
New Eogland became demoralized.
Blood was shed in Rhode Island when
the Sheriffs attempted 10 carry the
forcing laws into effect. Shay's Tebell-
ion ragged all winter in Western Msssa-
chusetts. The merchants, the la awyers
and the Courts were the ohjecGs of pop
ular hatred and abuse. The Governors
of Rhode Island and Vermont openly
favored the insurgents in Massachusetts,
The jails were alternately filed by the
Sheriff and emptied by the mob. Far
mers refused TO bring their prIduce to
The towns. Consumers and producers
were at enmity, and values were for a
time upset by odious laws passed to
bolster up limp and worthless cur
rency. Had it not been for the vete-
rams OF the war she scenes of the French
Revolution would have found prece-
dent in America.
The WINTER of 17S6-'S7 was unusu-
ally severe. The laboIer complained
that his occasional employment was
poorly paid with paper bill Of varying
value with which he could not supply
his family with the necessaries of life
Merchants complained that the farmers
would not trade with them, and that
they could not afford to barter, as their
stock was imported and had been paid
for in coin. Tax collectors returned
men who for years had been reputed the
wealthiest men OF the town. Thought
full men grew alarmed. Washirgton-s
circular letter from Newburg read like
a prophecy I'VE shall be left nearly
IN a state of nature, or we may find by
our own unhappy experience that there
is natural and necessary progression
from the exereme of anarchy to the ex-
treme OF tyranny, and that arbitrary
power is most easily established on the
ruins of liberty abused by licentious-
ness" Amidst the bankruptcy Of the
many States passed laws impairing the
obligation of contracts. The sense of
justice seemed los: to the Republic. II
the iuviolabiiIty of private rights was
to be lawfully ignored aud formally de-
clared void by public legislation, then
after that 1.-The deiuge." Interference
with private rights and tie steady dis
pensation with Justice" wrote Madison
Ia after years, 'were the evils which
above all others led TO the new Cons,i-
tuition" The Convention
closed its doors on tho oeoond day OF its
session, May Is, 1877, and the delegates,
under oath of secrecy, proceeded to take
into consideration the state of the ma
ti0n. When autumn came the work of
the Convention was done-s work far
different than that for which the men,
bers had been elected. The Constitu-
tiOn of the United States was given 10
the people. The country had supposed
that the Convention was merely a trade
Convention. But we know the secret
history, or at least the greater portion
of the history OF the proceedings of the
Convention. Il was published fifty
years sgO, when nearly all of the franz
ers of our Federal Constitution were IN
their graves. Those wise men were
equal - the grave problems before them;
their names find an imperishsble mon
ument in the work Of their hands they
linked together the industrial and politi-
cal interests Of the nation, and formed
a more perfect Union. But the causes
which led TO the making Of the Consti-
tuition were economic rather than poll
tical in character.-Frnncis ". Thorpe,
IN HdgUzine OF Americdn HiStOrl